Chinese scientists develop hydrogel to help burn tumors in the body

This type of hydrogel helps to burn tumors more accurately and strengthen the body's immunity against tumors.

Hydrogel is a metal-based, hydrophilic and 3-dimensional biological material that can expand in water without dissolving in a short time, thereby having the ability to absorb thousands of times more water. dry weight of this material.

Illustration of cancer treatment with hydrogel.

In a study published in the journal Science Advances on August 4, scientists working at the Institute of Soft and Functional Nanomaterials, Dong Ngo University, said that hydrogels help enhance heating efficiency and limited heating zone when exposed to microwaves - a commonly used local tumor ablation therapy in clinical treatment.

The scientists wrapped calcium and manganese ions in a small alginate-based hydrogel, which generates more heat at a targeted spot and avoids damaging surrounding healthy tissue.

According to the study, extracellular calcium ions exist in large quantities, making cancer cells sensitive to mild heat damage, thereby promoting complete resection of the primary tumor. The burned cancer cells then continue to interact with calcium and manganese ions to induce effective immune responses against the tumor.

The researchers from Dong Ngo University confirmed that the molecular pathways activated in this mechanism can prevent the growth of both metastatic and recurrent tumors.